VOA - Race to the Moon. The Days of Project Gemini

Материал готовится, пожалуйста, возвращайтесь позднее

EXPLORATIONS — a program in Special English by the Voice of America. (MUSIC)

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: Today, Harry Monroe and Tony Riggs report about America's second manned space program, Gemini. Two astronauts flew on each flight. Gemini's purpose was to bring the United States closer to its goal of landing astronauts on the moon. (MUSIC) TONY RIGGS: The astronauts of America's first manned program, Project Mercury, made six successful flights. They proved that people could survive the hostile environment of space. In nineteen sixty-five America's space agency, NASA, was ready to begin its second manned program. NASA called it Gemini. The program was named for the two stars Castor and Pollux in the star group Gemini. The Gemini program would send two astronauts at a time into space. Gemini would test the men's ability to live and work in space. Gemini, it was hoped, would move America closer to its goal of landing astronauts on the moon. HARRY MONROE: The first Gemini spacecraft would carry astronauts Virgil Grissom and John Young. Its Titan rocket could lift three times as much weight into space as the Atlas rocket used for the Mercury flights. The launch took place without a problem on March twenty-third, nineteen sixty-five. Grissom and Young orbited the Earth only three times. But they did something that the Mercury astronauts had not been able to do. They changed their orbit while in space. The Gemini astronauts were developing the control that would be needed for a trip to the moon. Less than two months later, James McDivitt and Ed White went into space on the second Gemini flight. Their flight included several experiments. But one seemed almost unbelievable — a space walk. Ed White would leave the protection of the spacecraft and move out into the unknown emptiness of space. TONY RIGGS: When it was time for him to leave the spacecraft, this is what the world heard: "Roger, Flight, we're GO." Those were the words from the flight director on the ground. Then a voice came down from space. "He is ready to leave right now," called McDivitt. The astronauts had removed all air pressure from the spacecraft. Only their special space clothing would provide the air pressure they needed to stay alive. HARRY MONROE: Slowly, Ed White moved out the open door. He was tied to the spacecraft by a long rope. He floated out and away from the spacecraft. Millions of people listened as he said: "This is the greatest experience. I am looking down right now. And it looks like we are coming up on the coast of California." At space agency headquarters, doctors studied his medical condition as the information was being sent back to Earth. They said that being outside the spacecraft did not seem to affect him. TONY RIGGS: It was time for Ed White to end his space walk. James McDivitt had to beg him to return. White was having a wonderful time. He wanted to stay out longer. Finally, he climbed back inside. He had floated around in the emptiness of space for twenty-one minutes. Then a problem developed. The door of the spacecraft refused to shut tightly. The astronauts' clothing protected them during the flight. But what would happen during re-entry? James McDivitt had to try to repair the door. (MUSIC) HARRY MONROE: Scientists always knew it would not be easy for humans to work in the weightlessness of space. Each time an astronaut puts pressure in one direction, their body moves in the opposite direction. There is no gravity to hold them in place.